Uses of Oldeania alpina (K. Schum.) Stapleton (Poaceae) and local perceptions of its spatio-temporal dynamics in Lubero cool highlands region (DR Congo)

Abstract

Background: In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Oldeania alpina (K. Schum.) Stapleton provides multiple goods and services to rural populations and is the keystone species of mountain forest ecosystems, most of which are in a very advanced state of degradation. The present study was carried out in Lubero cool highlands region, in the North-East of the DR Congo. It aims to highlight the knowledge of local populations on the uses of O. alpina as well as their perceptions of the spatio-temporal dynamics of this high-altitude bamboo species.Methods: Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in five villages of the study area through semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups with 245 people. The different forms of use of O. alpina organs and the local perceptions of its spatio-temporal dynamics were the key axes of the surveys. The software R version 4.1.5 was used to calculate the ethnobotanical indices and to carry out static analyses of the data.Results: The results showed that O. alpina is well known by the populations of the study area and is solicited in seven main categories of use, namely: fuelwood (22.5 %), construction (22 %), handicrafts (17 %), agriculture (14.5 %), pharmacopoeia (14 %), worship (8 %) and food (2 %). For these uses, the populations solicit the following organs: culms (59.2 %), blades (12.24 %), shoots (10.54 %), rhizomes (6.78 %), sheaths (6.56 %) and straw (4.68 %). Also, for the populations of the study area, the bamboo groves of O. alpina are in a regressive spatio-temporal dynamics. Conclusion:In Lubero cool highlands region, O. alpina is in constant degradation due to uncontrolled human exploitation. The results of this study provide reliable technical bases for developing conservation strategies for O. alpina in the study area.

Ethnobotanical knowledge of Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae) by people living in community forests in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

“…Informants were selected randomly and consisted of interviews with individuals available to participate in the study based on criteria. Given that the plurality of people to be interviewed always reveals a diversity of viewpoints (Ndavaro et al 2023) and that the diversification of sources of ethnobotanical data allows us to consider the societal realities specific to each environment (Sambiéni et al 2015, Ndavaro et al 2023, the sample size (n) was calculated by the normal approximation of the binomial distribution (Padonou et al 2014;Agbo et al 2017;Ndavaro et al 2023):…”

“…In these territories, traditional medicine is used to treat over 50 diseases, including malaria, diarrhea, colic, internal candidiasis, yellow fever, migraine, rheumatism, otitis, abscesses, gastritis, intestinal worms, panariasis, wounds, ulcers, haemorrhoids, hernias, dysentery, nasal haemorrhage, gastroenteritis, sprains, atherosclerosis, urogenital infections, furunculosis, ringworm, scabies, coughs, asthma, poison, etc. (Kasika et al 2016;Ndavaro et al 2023;Saa-Sita et al 2022). Among these medicinal plants is Prunus africana, distributed in the Afromontane forests of North and South Kivu provinces (Cunningham et al, 2016;Muhesi and Mate, 2018;Muhesi et al 2023).…”

Effect of age, gender and formal education on endogenous knowledge of woody plants in communities bordering forest patches of the Lubero Mountain Massif (DR Congo)

“…Indeed, for centuries, humans have maintained existential relationships with forest plants, which provide them with enormous ecosystem goods and services, most of which contribute to the satisfaction of the most fundamental human needs (Gouwakinnou et al 2019;Soe & Yeo-Chang 2019;Kaltenborn et al 2020). In Sub-Saharan Africa, rural human societies are most closely linked to forest plant resources for their subsistence, due to the lower living standard of their populations (Kathambi et al 2020;Ndavaro et al 2023). Members of rural communities are endowed with endogenous knowledge and practices that are incorporated into their habits and passed down from generation to generation as a result of their overdependence on forest plant resources (McMillen 2012;Parrotta et al 2016;Badjaré et al 2018;Cissé et al 2018;Ndavaro et al 2023).…”

“…In Sub-Saharan Africa, rural human societies are most closely linked to forest plant resources for their subsistence, due to the lower living standard of their populations (Kathambi et al 2020;Ndavaro et al 2023). Members of rural communities are endowed with endogenous knowledge and practices that are incorporated into their habits and passed down from generation to generation as a result of their overdependence on forest plant resources (McMillen 2012;Parrotta et al 2016;Badjaré et al 2018;Cissé et al 2018;Ndavaro et al 2023). Endogenous knowledge is dynamic as a result of close interactions with natural systems (Kathambi et al 2020) and the diverse experiences acquired over centuries in constantly changing environmental, socio-economic and political contexts (Parrotta et al 2016).…”

“…The woody plants of the forest patches of the Lubero Mountain Massif play an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of local communities (Vyakuno 2006;Ndavaro et al 2023) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), which has a population that is 70% peasant (Karume et al 2022). Indeed, more than 80% of this region population in the north-east of DR Congo relies heavily on woody plants of forest patches for their subsistence in terms of food supply, primary medical care, domestic fuel or charcoal, building materials for residential houses, handicraft products, etc.…”